Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Services Administration-Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program, 47623-47627 [2014-19288]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 157 / Thursday, August 14, 2014 / Notices
Dated: August 12, 2014.
Peter S. Winokur,
Chairman.
[FR Doc. 2014–19430 Filed 8–12–14; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3670–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Rehabilitation Services
Administration—Assistive Technology
Alternative Financing Program
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information:
Rehabilitation Services
Administration—Assistive Technology
Alternative Financing Program Notice
inviting applications for new awards for
fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.224D.
DATES:
Applications Available: August 14,
2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: September 15, 2014.
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Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
the Assistive Technology (AT)
Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is
to support programs that provide for the
purchase of AT devices, such as a lowinterest loan fund, an interest buy-down
program, a revolving loan fund, a loan
guarantee, or an insurance program. The
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014
(the Act) requires applicants for these
grants to provide an assurance that, and
information describing the manner in
which, the AFP will expand and
emphasize consumer choice and
control. It also specifies that State
agencies and community-based
disability organizations that are directed
by and operated for individuals with
disabilities shall be eligible to compete.
In addition, language in the Manager’s
Statement accompanying the Act
provides that applicants should
incorporate credit-building activities in
their programs, including financial
education and information about other
possible funding sources. Successful
applicants must emphasize consumer
choice and control and build programs
that will provide financing for the full
array of AT devices and services and
ensure that all people with disabilities,
regardless of type of disability or health
condition, age, level of income, and
residence, have access to the program.
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Priority: This priority is from the
notice of final priority for this program,
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, this
priority is an absolute priority. Under 34
CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
Note: The full text of this priority is
included in the notice of final priority
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register and in the application
package for this competition.
Competitive Preference Priorities:
Within this absolute priority, we give
competitive preference to applications
that address the following priorities.
These priorities are from the notice of
final priority for this program,
published elsewhere in this issue of the
Federal Register.
These priorities are:
Need to Establish an AFP (10
additional points): This applies to an
applicant located in a State or outlying
area where an AFP grant has not been
previously awarded under title III of the
AT Act of 1998 or under the
Appropriations Acts for FYs 2012 and
2013.
Need to Expand an AFP (5 additional
points): This applies to an applicant
located in a State or outlying area where
an AFP grant has been previously
awarded under title III of the AT Act of
1998 or under the Appropriations Acts
for FYs 2012 and 2013, but the State or
outlying area has received less than a
total of $1 million in Federal grant
funds for the operation of its AFP under
title III of the AT Act of 1998 during
fiscal years 2000 through 2006 and the
Appropriations Acts for FYs 2012 and
2013.
Program Authority: Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2014 (Pub. L. 113–76).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education
Department debarment and suspension
regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The
notice of final priority published
elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Note: In general, the provisions of EDGAR
listed above apply to these grants except to
the extent they are inconsistent with the
purpose and intent of the requirements in
this notice.
Specifically, grantees are exempt from
34 CFR 80.25(i) regarding interest
earned on advances, and the addition
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method in 34 CFR 80.25(g)(2) applies to
program income rather than the
deduction method in 34 CFR
80.25(g)(1). Also, 34 CFR 75.560–75.564
do not apply to the extent that these
sections of EDGAR are inconsistent with
the AFP requirement that indirect costs
cannot exceed 10 percent of the costs to
administer the program.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
apply to all applicants except federally
recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds:
$1,986,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2015 from the list of unfunded
applicants for this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: Up to
$993,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$662,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $993,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 2 to 4.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State agencies
and community-based disability
organizations that are directed by and
operated for individuals with
disabilities shall be eligible to compete.
Under 34 CFR 75.127(a), eligible parties
may apply for a grant as a group or
consortium.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
use the following address: www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S.
Department of Education, P.O. Box
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22207, Alexandria, VA 22304.
Telephone, toll free: 1–877–433–7827.
FAX: (703) 605–6794. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call,
toll free: 1–877–576–7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at its
email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this program as
follows: CFDA number 84.224D.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an accessible format (e.g., braille,
large print, audiotape, or compact disc)
by contacting the person or team listed
under Accessible Format in section VIII
of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. You must limit the
application narrative to the equivalent
of no more than 24 pages, using the
following standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ x 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Double space (no more than three
lines per vertical inch) all text in the
application narrative, including titles,
headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
• Use one of the following fonts:
Times New Roman, Courier, Courier
New, or Arial. An application submitted
in any other font (including Times
Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be
accepted.
The page limit does not apply to Part
I, the Application for Federal
Assistance; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the eligibility statement, the curriculum
vitae, the bibliography, the letters of
recommendation, or the information on
the protection of human subjects.
However, the page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative section.
We will reject your application if you
exceed the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: August 14,
2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: September 15, 2014.
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Applications for grants under this
program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov). For information
(including dates and times) about how
to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, please refer to
section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII of this notice. If
the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is subject to Executive Order
12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR
part 79. However, under 34 CFR 79.8(a),
we waive intergovernmental review in
order to make an award by the end of
FY 2014.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System
Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award
Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must—
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number and a Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number
and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly the
Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the
Government’s primary registrant
database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and
TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM
registration with current information
while your application is under review
by the Department and, if you are
awarded a grant, during the project
period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from
Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number
can be created within one-to-two
business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency,
institution, or organization, you can
obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue
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Service. If you are an individual, you
can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security
Administration. If you need a new TIN,
please allow two to five weeks for your
TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take
approximately seven business days, but
may take upwards of several weeks,
depending on the completeness and
accuracy of the data entered into the
SAM database by an entity. Thus, if you
think you might want to apply for
Federal financial assistance under a
program administered by the
Department, please allow sufficient time
to obtain and register your DUNS
number and TIN. We strongly
recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active,
you will need to allow 24 to 48 hours for the
information to be available in Grants.gov and
before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with
SAM, you may not need to make any
changes. However, please make certain
that the TIN associated with your DUNS
number is correct. Also note that you
will need to update your registration
annually. This may take three or more
business days.
Information about SAM is available at
www.SAM.gov. To further assist you
with obtaining and registering your
DUNS number and TIN in SAM or
updating your existing SAM account,
we have prepared a SAM.gov Tip Sheet,
which you can find at: https://
www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/samfaqs.html.
In addition, if you are submitting your
application via Grants.gov, you must (1)
be designated by your organization as an
Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these
steps are outlined at the following
Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/
web/grants/register.html.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
competition must be submitted
electronically unless you qualify for an
exception to this requirement in
accordance with the instructions in this
section.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications.
Applications for grants under the
Assistive Technology Alternative
Financing Program, CFDA number
84.224D, must be submitted
electronically using the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site
at www.Grants.gov. Through this site,
you will be able to download a copy of
the application package, complete it
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offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not email an
electronic copy of a grant application to
us.
We will reject your application if you
submit it in paper format unless, as
described elsewhere in this section, you
qualify for one of the exceptions to the
electronic submission requirement and
submit, no later than two weeks before
the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you
qualify for one of these exceptions.
Further information regarding
calculation of the date that is two weeks
before the application deadline date is
provided later in this section under
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant
application for the Assistive Technology
Alternative Financing Program at
www.Grants.gov. You must search for
the downloadable application package
for this program by the CFDA number.
Do not include the CFDA number’s
alpha suffix in your search (e.g., search
for 84.224, not 84.224D).
Please note the following:
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by Grants.gov
are date and time stamped. Your
application must be fully uploaded and
submitted and must be date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system no
later than 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date.
Except as otherwise noted in this
section, we will not accept your
application if it is received—that is, date
and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system—after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington,
DC time, on the application deadline
date. We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements. When we retrieve your
application from Grants.gov, we will
notify you if we are rejecting your
application because it was date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
depending on a variety of factors,
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
• You should review and follow the
Education Submission Procedures for
submitting an application through
Grants.gov that are included in the
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application package for this program to
ensure that you submit your application
in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education
Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on
the Department’s G5 system home page
at www.G5.gov.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you qualify for
an exception to the electronic
submission requirement, as described
elsewhere in this section, and submit
your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents
electronically, including all information
you typically provide on the following
forms: The Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for
SF 424, Budget Information—NonConstruction Programs (ED 524), and all
necessary assurances and certifications.
• You must upload any narrative
sections and all other attachments to
your application as files in a PDF
(Portable Document) read-only, nonmodifiable format. Do not upload an
interactive or fillable PDF file. If you
upload a file type other than a readonly, non-modifiable PDF or submit a
password-protected file, we will not
review that material.
• Your electronic application must
comply with any page-limit
requirements described in this notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive from
Grants.gov an automatic notification of
receipt that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number. (This notification
indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not
receipt by the Department.) The
Department will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send a
second notification to you by email.
This second notification indicates that
the Department has received your
application and has assigned your
application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified identifying number unique to
your application).
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of Technical Issues with the
Grants.gov System: If you are
experiencing problems submitting your
application through Grants.gov, please
contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,
toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must
obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
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date because of technical problems with
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this
notice.
If you submit an application after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII of this notice and provide an
explanation of the technical problem
you experienced with Grants.gov, along
with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number. We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that that problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a
determination is made on whether your
application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in
this section apply only to the unavailability
of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
application to Grants.gov before the
application deadline date and time or if the
technical problem you experienced is
unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission
Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission
requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are
unable to submit an application through
the Grants.gov system because—
• You do not have access to the
Internet; or
• You do not have the capacity to
upload large documents to the
Grants.gov system; and
• No later than two weeks before the
application deadline date (14 calendar
days or, if the fourteenth calendar day
before the application deadline date
falls on a Federal holiday, the next
business day following the Federal
holiday), you mail or fax a written
statement to the Department, explaining
which of the two grounds for an
exception prevents you from using the
Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to
the Department, it must be postmarked
no later than two weeks before the
application deadline date. If you fax
your written statement to the
Department, we must receive the faxed
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statement no later than two weeks
before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your
statement to: Robert Groenendaal, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5025, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC
20202–2800. FAX: (202) 245–7590.
Your paper application must be
submitted in accordance with the mail
or hand delivery instructions described
in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
may mail (through the U.S. Postal
Service or a commercial carrier) your
application to the Department. You
must mail the original and two copies
of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.224D), LBJ Basement
Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202–4260.
You must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service
postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or
receipt from a commercial carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
If you mail your application through
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
accept either of the following as proof
of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after
the application deadline date, we will
not consider your application.
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Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
relying on this method, you should check
with your local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications
by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the
electronic submission requirement, you
(or a courier service) may deliver your
paper application to the Department by
hand. You must deliver the original and
two copies of your application by hand,
on or before the application deadline
date, to the Department at the following
address: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.224D), 550 12th
Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
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The Application Control Center accepts
hand deliveries daily between 8:00 a.m.
and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time,
except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal
holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of
Paper Applications: If you mail or hand
deliver your application to the
Department—
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
and—if not provided by the
Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424
the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under
which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center
will mail to you a notification of receipt
of your grant application. If you do not
receive this notification within 15
business days from the application
deadline date, you should call the U.S.
Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245–6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection
criteria for this program are from 34 CFR
75.210 and are listed in the application
package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We
remind potential applicants that in
reviewing applications in any
discretionary grant competition, the
Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR
75.217(d)(3), the past performance of the
applicant in carrying out a previous
award, such as the applicant’s use of
funds, achievement of project
objectives, and compliance with grant
conditions. The Secretary may also
consider whether the applicant failed to
submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable
quality.
In addition, in making a competitive
grant award, the Secretary also requires
various assurances including those
applicable to Federal civil rights laws
that prohibit discrimination in programs
or activities receiving Federal financial
assistance from the Department of
Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4,
108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR
74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary may
impose special conditions on a grant if
the applicant or grantee is not
financially stable; has a history of
unsatisfactory performance; has a
financial or other management system
that does not meet the standards in 34
CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has
not fulfilled the conditions of a prior
grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application
is successful, we notify your U.S.
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Representative and U.S. Senators and
send you a Grant Award Notification
(GAN); or we may send you an email
containing a link to access an electronic
version of your GAN. We may notify
you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or
not selected for funding, we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy
requirements in the application package
and reference these and other
requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining
the terms and conditions of an award in
the Applicable Regulations section of
this notice and include these and other
specific conditions in the GAN. The
GAN also incorporates your approved
application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a
grant under this competition, you must
ensure that you have in place the
necessary processes and systems to
comply with the reporting requirements
in 2 CFR part 170 should you receive
funding under the competition. This
does not apply if you have an exception
under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period,
you must submit a final performance
report, including financial information,
as directed by the Secretary. If you
receive a multi-year award, you must
submit an annual performance report
that provides the most current
performance and financial expenditure
information as directed by the Secretary
under 34 CFR 75.118. The Secretary
may also require more frequent
performance reports under 34 CFR
75.720(c). For specific requirements on
reporting, please go to www.ed.gov/
fund/grant/apply/appforms/
appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The
Government Performance and Results
Act of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal
departments and agencies to improve
the effectiveness of their programs by
engaging in strategic planning, setting
outcome-related goals for programs, and
measuring program results against those
goals. The goal of the AFP is to reduce
cost barriers to obtaining AT devices
and services by providing alternative
financing mechanisms that allow
individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates,
and authorized representatives to
purchase AT devices and services. The
following measure has been developed
for evaluating the overall effectiveness
of the AFP: The cumulative amount
loaned to individuals with disabilities
per $1 million in cumulative Federal
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investment. Grantees will report data for
use in calculating this measure through
the data collection system required by
the Secretary as stated in paragraph (8)
in the list of required assurances in the
absolute priority for this competition.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Groenendaal, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Room 5025, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2800. Telephone: (202) 245–7393
or by email: robert.groenendaal@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the
FRS, toll free, at 1–800–877–8339.
VIII. Other Information
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Accessible Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an accessible format (e.g., braille, large
print, audiotape, or compact disc) on
request by contacting the Grants and
Contracts Services Team, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW., Room 5075, PCP,
Washington, DC 20202–2550.
Telephone: (202) 245–7363. If you use a
TDD or TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at
1–800–877–8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
The official version of this document is
the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations is
available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
can view this document, as well as all
other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF). To use PDF you must
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
available free at the site.
You may also access documents of the
Department published in the Federal
Register by using the article search
feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Specifically, through the advanced
search feature at this site, you can limit
your search to documents published by
the Department.
Dated: August 11, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 2014–19288 Filed 8–13–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards;
Rehabilitation Services
Administration—Capacity Building
Program for Traditionally Underserved
Populations—Vocational Rehabilitation
Training Institute for the Preparation of
Personnel in American Indian
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Projects
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Overview Information:
Rehabilitation Services
Administration—Capacity Building
Program for Traditionally Underserved
Populations—Vocational Rehabilitation
(VR) Training Institute for the
Preparation of Personnel in American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Projects
Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.315C.
Dates:
Applications Available: August 14,
2014.
Date of Pre-Application Webinar:
August 20, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: September 15, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of the Program: The Capacity
Building Program for Traditionally
Underserved Populations under section
21(b)(2)(C) of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended (Rehabilitation Act)
(29 U.S.C. 718(b)(2)(C)), provides
outreach and technical assistance (TA)
to minority entities and American
Indian tribes to promote their
participation in activities funded under
the Rehabilitation Act, including
assistance to enhance their capacity to
carry out such activities.
Priorities: This notice includes two
absolute priorities. These priorities are
from the notice of final priorities for this
program, published elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register.
Absolute Priorities: For FY 2014 and
any subsequent year in which we make
awards from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition, these
priorities are absolute priorities. Under
34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only
applications that meet both of these
priorities.
These priorities are:
Absolute Priority 1—Vocational
Rehabilitation Training Institute for the
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
47627
Preparation of Personnel in American
Indian Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Projects (Institute).
Absolute Priority 2—Partnership
Between a Four-Year Institution of
Higher Education and a Two-Year
Community College or Tribal College.
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C.
718(b)(2)(C).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82,
84, 86, 99. (b) The Education
Department suspension and debarment
regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The
notice of final priorities for this
program, published elsewhere in this
issue of the Federal Register.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79
apply to all applicants except federally
recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86
apply to institutions of higher education
(IHEs) only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Cooperative
Agreement.
Estimated Available Funds: $700,000.
Contingent upon the availability of
funds and the quality of applications,
we may make additional awards in FY
2015 from the list of unfunded
applicants from this competition.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $700,000 for a single budget
period of 12 months. The Assistant
Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the
maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 1.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Up to 60 months.
Continuing the Fourth and Fifth Years
of the Project:
In deciding whether to continue
funding the Institute for the fourth and
fifth years, the Department, as part of
the review of the Cooperative
Agreement, the application narrative,
the partnership agreement, and annual
performance reports will consider the
degree to which the Institute
demonstrates—
(a) Substantial progress in providing a
structured training program focused on
the VR process and practices and the
unique skills and knowledge necessary
to improve employment outcomes for
American Indians with disabilities.
(b) Substantial progress in improving
counseling and VR services in a
culturally appropriate manner to
E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM
14AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47623-47627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19288]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Services
Administration--Assistive Technology Alternative Financing Program
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Overview Information:
Rehabilitation Services Administration--Assistive Technology
Alternative Financing Program Notice inviting applications for new
awards for fiscal year (FY) 2014.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.224D.
DATES:
Applications Available: August 14, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 15, 2014.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the Assistive Technology (AT)
Alternative Financing Program (AFP) is to support programs that provide
for the purchase of AT devices, such as a low-interest loan fund, an
interest buy-down program, a revolving loan fund, a loan guarantee, or
an insurance program. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (the
Act) requires applicants for these grants to provide an assurance that,
and information describing the manner in which, the AFP will expand and
emphasize consumer choice and control. It also specifies that State
agencies and community-based disability organizations that are directed
by and operated for individuals with disabilities shall be eligible to
compete. In addition, language in the Manager's Statement accompanying
the Act provides that applicants should incorporate credit-building
activities in their programs, including financial education and
information about other possible funding sources. Successful applicants
must emphasize consumer choice and control and build programs that will
provide financing for the full array of AT devices and services and
ensure that all people with disabilities, regardless of type of
disability or health condition, age, level of income, and residence,
have access to the program.
Priority: This priority is from the notice of final priority for
this program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register.
Absolute Priority: For FY 2014 and any subsequent year in which we
make awards from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition,
this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we
consider only applications that meet this priority.
Note: The full text of this priority is included in the notice
of final priority published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal
Register and in the application package for this competition.
Competitive Preference Priorities: Within this absolute priority,
we give competitive preference to applications that address the
following priorities.
These priorities are from the notice of final priority for this
program, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
These priorities are:
Need to Establish an AFP (10 additional points): This applies to an
applicant located in a State or outlying area where an AFP grant has
not been previously awarded under title III of the AT Act of 1998 or
under the Appropriations Acts for FYs 2012 and 2013.
Need to Expand an AFP (5 additional points): This applies to an
applicant located in a State or outlying area where an AFP grant has
been previously awarded under title III of the AT Act of 1998 or under
the Appropriations Acts for FYs 2012 and 2013, but the State or
outlying area has received less than a total of $1 million in Federal
grant funds for the operation of its AFP under title III of the AT Act
of 1998 during fiscal years 2000 through 2006 and the Appropriations
Acts for FYs 2012 and 2013.
Program Authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (Pub.
L. 113-76).
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80,
81, 82, 84, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The Education Department debarment
and suspension regulations in 2 CFR part 3485. (c) The notice of final
priority published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
Note: In general, the provisions of EDGAR listed above apply to
these grants except to the extent they are inconsistent with the
purpose and intent of the requirements in this notice.
Specifically, grantees are exempt from 34 CFR 80.25(i) regarding
interest earned on advances, and the addition method in 34 CFR
80.25(g)(2) applies to program income rather than the deduction method
in 34 CFR 80.25(g)(1). Also, 34 CFR 75.560-75.564 do not apply to the
extent that these sections of EDGAR are inconsistent with the AFP
requirement that indirect costs cannot exceed 10 percent of the costs
to administer the program.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants
except federally recognized Indian tribes.
Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions
of higher education only.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: $1,986,000.
Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of
applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2015 from the list of
unfunded applicants for this competition.
Estimated Range of Awards: Up to $993,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $662,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $993,000 for a single budget period of 12 months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount through a notice published in the Federal
Register.
Estimated Number of Awards: 2 to 4.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Project Period: Up to 12 months.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: State agencies and community-based
disability organizations that are directed by and operated for
individuals with disabilities shall be eligible to compete. Under 34
CFR 75.127(a), eligible parties may apply for a grant as a group or
consortium.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/. To obtain a
copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following: ED Pubs, U.S.
Department of Education, P.O. Box
[[Page 47624]]
22207, Alexandria, VA 22304. Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX:
(703) 605-6794. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call, toll free: 1-877-576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: www.EDPubs.gov or at
its email address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this program as follows: CFDA number 84.224D.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an accessible format (e.g., braille, large print, audiotape,
or compact disc) by contacting the person or team listed under
Accessible Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative to the equivalent of no more than 24 pages, using
the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5 x 11, on one side
only, with 1'' margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Double space (no more than three lines per vertical inch)
all text in the application narrative, including titles, headings,
footnotes, quotations, references, and captions, as well as all text in
charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Courier,
Courier New, or Arial. An application submitted in any other font
(including Times Roman or Arial Narrow) will not be accepted.
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the Application for
Federal Assistance; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the
one-page abstract, the eligibility statement, the curriculum vitae, the
bibliography, the letters of recommendation, or the information on the
protection of human subjects. However, the page limit does apply to all
of the application narrative section.
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
3. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: August 14, 2014.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: September 15, 2014.
Applications for grants under this program must be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your
application electronically, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, please refer to section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements of this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
of this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. However, under 34
CFR 79.8(a), we waive intergovernmental review in order to make an
award by the end of FY 2014.
5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
6. Data Universal Numbering System Number, Taxpayer Identification
Number, and System for Award Management: To do business with the
Department of Education, you must--
a. Have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN);
b. Register both your DUNS number and TIN with the System for Award
Management (SAM) (formerly the Central Contractor Registry (CCR)), the
Government's primary registrant database;
c. Provide your DUNS number and TIN on your application; and
d. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information
while your application is under review by the Department and, if you
are awarded a grant, during the project period.
You can obtain a DUNS number from Dun and Bradstreet. A DUNS number
can be created within one-to-two business days.
If you are a corporate entity, agency, institution, or
organization, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal Revenue Service.
If you are an individual, you can obtain a TIN from the Internal
Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration. If you need a
new TIN, please allow two to five weeks for your TIN to become active.
The SAM registration process can take approximately seven business
days, but may take upwards of several weeks, depending on the
completeness and accuracy of the data entered into the SAM database by
an entity. Thus, if you think you might want to apply for Federal
financial assistance under a program administered by the Department,
please allow sufficient time to obtain and register your DUNS number
and TIN. We strongly recommend that you register early.
Note: Once your SAM registration is active, you will need to
allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in
Grants.gov and before you can submit an application through
Grants.gov.
If you are currently registered with SAM, you may not need to make
any changes. However, please make certain that the TIN associated with
your DUNS number is correct. Also note that you will need to update
your registration annually. This may take three or more business days.
Information about SAM is available at www.SAM.gov. To further
assist you with obtaining and registering your DUNS number and TIN in
SAM or updating your existing SAM account, we have prepared a SAM.gov
Tip Sheet, which you can find at: https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/sam-faqs.html.
In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov,
you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized
Organization Representative (AOR); and (2) register yourself with
Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the
following Grants.gov Web page: www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the
instructions in this section.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
Applications for grants under the Assistive Technology Alternative
Financing Program, CFDA number 84.224D, must be submitted
electronically using the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at
www.Grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to download a copy
of the application package, complete it
[[Page 47625]]
offline, and then upload and submit your application. You may not email
an electronic copy of a grant application to us.
We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
You may access the electronic grant application for the Assistive
Technology Alternative Financing Program at www.Grants.gov. You must
search for the downloadable application package for this program by the
CFDA number. Do not include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your
search (e.g., search for 84.224, not 84.224D).
Please note the following:
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system.
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to
Grants.gov under News and Events on the Department's G5 system home
page at www.G5.gov.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your
application in paper format.
You must submit all documents electronically, including
all information you typically provide on the following forms: The
Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424), the Department of
Education Supplemental Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-
Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and
certifications.
You must upload any narrative sections and all other
attachments to your application as files in a PDF (Portable Document)
read-only, non-modifiable format. Do not upload an interactive or
fillable PDF file. If you upload a file type other than a read-only,
non-modifiable PDF or submit a password-protected file, we will not
review that material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send a
second notification to you by email. This second notification indicates
that the Department has received your application and has assigned your
application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number
unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
with the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII of this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application
through the Grants.gov system because--
You do not have access to the Internet; or
You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to
the Grants.gov system; and
No later than two weeks before the application deadline
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception
prevents you from using the Internet to submit your application.
If you mail your written statement to the Department, it must be
postmarked no later than two weeks before the application deadline
date. If you fax your written statement to the Department, we must
receive the faxed
[[Page 47626]]
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
Address and mail or fax your statement to: Robert Groenendaal, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5025, Potomac
Center Plaza (PCP), Washington, DC 20202-2800. FAX: (202) 245-7590.
Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a
commercial carrier) your application to the Department. You must mail
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.224D), LBJ Basement Level 1, 400 Maryland Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20202-4260.
You must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention:
(CFDA Number 84.224D), 550 12th Street SW., Room 7039, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between
8:00 a.m. and 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are
from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.
2. Review and Selection Process: We remind potential applicants
that in reviewing applications in any discretionary grant competition,
the Secretary may consider, under 34 CFR 75.217(d)(3), the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out a previous award, such as
the applicant's use of funds, achievement of project objectives, and
compliance with grant conditions. The Secretary may also consider
whether the applicant failed to submit a timely performance report or
submitted a report of unacceptable quality.
In addition, in making a competitive grant award, the Secretary
also requires various assurances including those applicable to Federal
civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or
activities receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department
of Education (34 CFR 100.4, 104.5, 106.4, 108.8, and 110.23).
3. Special Conditions: Under 34 CFR 74.14 and 80.12, the Secretary
may impose special conditions on a grant if the applicant or grantee is
not financially stable; has a history of unsatisfactory performance;
has a financial or other management system that does not meet the
standards in 34 CFR parts 74 or 80, as applicable; has not fulfilled
the conditions of a prior grant; or is otherwise not responsible.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award
Notification (GAN); or we may send you an email containing a link to
access an electronic version of your GAN. We may notify you informally,
also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section of this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: (a) If you apply for a grant under this competition,
you must ensure that you have in place the necessary processes and
systems to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR part 170
should you receive funding under the competition. This does not apply
if you have an exception under 2 CFR 170.110(b).
(b) At the end of your project period, you must submit a final
performance report, including financial information, as directed by the
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an annual
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: The Government Performance and Results Act
of 1993 (GPRA) directs Federal departments and agencies to improve the
effectiveness of their programs by engaging in strategic planning,
setting outcome-related goals for programs, and measuring program
results against those goals. The goal of the AFP is to reduce cost
barriers to obtaining AT devices and services by providing alternative
financing mechanisms that allow individuals with disabilities and their
family members, guardians, advocates, and authorized representatives to
purchase AT devices and services. The following measure has been
developed for evaluating the overall effectiveness of the AFP: The
cumulative amount loaned to individuals with disabilities per $1
million in cumulative Federal
[[Page 47627]]
investment. Grantees will report data for use in calculating this
measure through the data collection system required by the Secretary as
stated in paragraph (8) in the list of required assurances in the
absolute priority for this competition.
VII. Agency Contact
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Groenendaal, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5025, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2800. Telephone: (202) 245-7393 or by email:
robert.groenendaal@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD or a TTY, call the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-
8339.
VIII. Other Information
Accessible Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an accessible format
(e.g., braille, large print, audiotape, or compact disc) on request by
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD or TTY, call
the FRS, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: The official version of this
document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free
Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System
at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site.
You may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Dated: August 11, 2014.
Michael K. Yudin,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-19288 Filed 8-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P